How long until judging efficacy/non-efficacy of minoxidil?

Lannister

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Hello,

First of all let me say that i was roaming this board for abaout half a year, until i now finally registered (relly difficult, because my e-mail-adresses were not allowed). Thanks again for all the useful information that was provided here.

I have the following question(s):

I am 32 years of age, have a family burden of male pattern baldness, my father is about a NW3.5 and the men in my mothers family are in the NW5 range. My status would be a Norwood 2.5 to 3, but it developed over a long time.
I began with noticing my hailine receding about 9 years ago, first doing nothing but watch-and-wait, then about 5 years ago, my haircutter was stating that maybe my hair in the central frontal region might be a bit thinning.
First I was shocked and began a Finasterid-treatment immediately (proscar 1/4ths) for about 6 months, however i stopped it because my GF (and now wife) thought i was dramatizing my thinning and i was afraid of contaminating her due to the cutting process of the pills....
However about 3 months ago, i noticed that not only that my temples have receded more heavily, but also that the frontal central area was really beginning to thin (after showering, it was obvious...). So this time i began a treatment with propecia (thus avoiding the cutting process, although the cost is much higher....) and after browing several forums i decided on beginning the "Big 3" as you call it here...... Hoping that maybe my receding hairline (meaning my Temple region or "Geheimratsecken" as we call it in germany) will have at least minimal regrowth.

I began with Regaine treatment (Cause we dont have the foam over here) about 2.5 months ago, smearing it on my receding hairline.
I was afraid of shedding but i didn´t experience any. Really nothing.
Now about 2.5 months in the treatment (and about 4 Months into Propecia) there is absolutely no fuzz hair or whatever, nothing new to report.
I know that one should give the treatment time, and I am really a patient guy, but after browsing the forums i am a little worried:

Most of the guys posting here noticed these little hairs on the 2 month mark.... However I do not see any regrowth.


Thats why I am asking:

1. When should one judge if Minoxidil works, or not ??? (On their webpage, Pfizer states 4 months) What are your experiences ?? When did you notice regrowth ??

I ask this because first of all Regaine is not Cheap, and secondly I would also try the Rogaine FOAM due to its renowned superior prowess concerning regrowth, however this is difficult to obtain over here in Germany.....and i would it begin it after failing conventional minoxidil.


Thanks in advance for answering,
L.
 

Maxpwr

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The general estimate for results is between 4 and 18 months... and that's to even notice results. I would at least advise that you stay on your treatments for 2 years before deciding whether to continue with them.

Of course you may think this is a bit silly to stay on treatments for that long if you aren't seeing results already, but if you are gonna try them, you may as well give it your best shot.

It is hard to notice regrowth, or any type of results after only a few months. The hairs you already have are not simply going to start growing thicker and longer straight away. Some of them can take several cycles before improving, and you may not even notice it then. As well as that, you could be totally unsure about whether it's working at all since sheds, lighting, wetness, and constant observation can give you a different impression every day.

One of the doctors at the Ashley & Martin clinic told me that the hair will regrow in reverse pattern to the way you started losing it. That means that the hair you lost when you first started noticing MBP will be the last ones you will regrow, and the ones that are only just starting to miniaturize should be the first to improve. (I don't know about the validity of these claims, but it certainly makes sense). Unfortunately that would mean that if you've been losing for years and only just started on meds now, it may take a fair while to yield results in some areas...

But I suggest you at least give it another year to eighteen months before stopping treatments.

Best of luck anyway :)
 
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